PenaVega to Star Opposite Lucy Hale in CW’s Dramedy Pilot “Life Sentence”

Carlos PenaVega has received a life setence…

The 27-year-old Spanish and Dominican American actor/singer will star as a series-regular opposite Lucy Hale in the CW’s dramedy pilot Life Sentence.

Carlos PenaVega

From Warner Bros. Television and Bill Lawrence’s studio-based Doozer Prods, the pilot was written by Significant Mother creators Erin Cardillo and Richard Keith.

Directed by Lee Toland Krieger, Life Sentence centers on Stella (Hale), a young woman diagnosed with terminal cancer. When she finds out that she’s not dying after all, she has to learn to live with the choices she made when she decided to “live like she was dying.”

PenaVega will play Darrius, Lucy’s brother-in-law. He’s the extremely positive and family-loving, pharmaceutical rep who Stella’s sister, Elizabeth, met during one of her hospital stays.

PenaVega, best known for starring on the Nickelodeon series Big Time Rush, most recently starred as Kenickie in Grease: Live.

He competed on the 21st season on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, finishing in fourth place.

Santos to Star in MTV’s Comedy Pilot “Happyland”

Bianca Santos has found her happy place…

The Latina actress has been cast as the lead in MTV’s comedy pilot Happyland, alongside Colombian American actress Zulay Henao, Shane Harper, Katherine McNamara and Cameron Moulene.

Bianca Santos

Happyland is a hailed as a soapy teen comedy exploring the underbelly of one of the country’s most popular theme parks and the people who work there.

Santos is best known for portraying Lexi Rivera – Cierra Ramirez’s best friend and Jake T. Austin’s love interest –on ABC Family’s Jennifer Lopez-executive-produced drama series The Fosters, which has been renewed for a second season.

Happyland, which was written by Ben Epstein, will be directed by Lee Toland Krieger.

Santos will portray Lucy, a cynical teen working as a greeter at the park where her single mother (portrayed by Henao) has played a fairytale princess for 15 years, and explores the realities of growing up and falling in love while living in a make-believe world.

Henao, who will continue on OWN’s Love Thy Neighbor as a recurring, will appear opposite William Levy in the upcoming feature film Single Mom’s Club.